Portable rack



Dec. 22, 1964' w. T. GEORGE 3,162,473

PORTABLE RACK Filed June 19, 1961 Warren 7. George IN VEN TOR.

Mm BY m United States Patent Ofifice 3,162,473 Patented Dec. 22, 19643,162,473 PORTABLE RACK Warren T. George, 1611 Clark Ave Billings, Mont.Filed lune 19, 1961, Ser. No. 117,865 14 Claims. (Cl. 294-55) Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in clothes handlingapparatus for use particularly, although not necessarily in laundries,dry cleaning, clothing and other establishments, and has for its puimrayobject to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel meanswhereby a large number of hanger-mounted garments may be expeditiouslyand safely carried from place to place with a minimum of effort.

Another very importantobject of the present invention is to provide anapparatus of the aforementioned character comprising a readilydetachable handle of a unique construction whereby a loaded rack may beeasily transported with one hand.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide animproved garment handling apparatus of the character set forth whichembodies unique means for connecting the loaded hangers comprising asingle order and for removing a plurality of such loaded hangers fromthe portable rack with one hand as for delivery to a customer.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a portableclothes rack wherein the operator is not required to touch the usualhanger hooks with the hands, thus substantially eliminating the dangerof injury from this source.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a portable clothes rack ofthe character set forth which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may bemanufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accorn panying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a View in side elevation, showing a load ed portable clothesrack embodying the present invention hung on a permanent rack;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantial- 1y on the line 22of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, showing an empty portable rack mountedon a removable handle;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the hanger connector and litter; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of portable rack.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and to FIG- URES 1 and 2 thereofin particular, it will be seen that reference numeral 7 designatesgenerally a portable clothes rack embodying the present invention. Therack '7 which may be of any suitable dimensions and material, comprisesa horizontal rod or shaft 8 having fixed thereon adjacent the endsthereof a pair of upstanding suspension hooks 9. The books 9 areengageable with a conventional stationary rack 10 mounted in a businessestablishment or a delivery vehicle for removably hanging the rack 7thereon. Fixed vertically on the ends of the rod or shaft 8 is a pair ofsubstantially rectangular, depending plates 11.

T o handle the rack 7 with a plurality of loaded hangers on the rod 8thereof, as indicated at 12, a handle 13 is provided. The carryinghandle 13 includes an angulated rod or bar 14 having on one end thereofa yoke 15 in which a hand-grip 16 is mounted. Fixed on the other orlower end of the bar 14 is a generally U-shaped saddle 17 which isadapted to straddle the back of the wrist or forearm of the user, asindicated at 18. Thus, the lower portion of the bar 14 and the saddle 17constitute an arm brace for the handle 13. Fixed to the angulated bar 14at an intermediate point is a generally U-shaped member or clip 19. Theclip 19 is for the reception of either of the plates 11 for removablymounting the carrying handle 13 on either end of the rod 8. In theembodiment shown, one end portion of the clip 19 is provided with anopen slot 20 which accommodates the rod 8.

For connecting a plurality of the hangers 12 and permitting them to behandled simultaneously with one hand, a lifting handle 21 is provided.The handle 21 includes a pair of elongated, parallel rings or loops 22which are integrally connected in the embodiment shown.

It is thought that the use of the invention will be readily understoodfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the portable rack 7 ishung on the stationary rack 10 and the hangers 12 are loaded on the rod8. As shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawing, several of the hangers 12comprising a single order are connected by one of the lifting handles 21prior to mounting said hangers on the rack 7. This is readilyaccomplished by simply inserting the suspension hooks of the hangers 12through one of the rings or loops 22. When the loaded rack 7 is to becarried or transported, the clip 19 is engaged with one of the plates 11for mounting the handle 13 on either end of the rod 8. The hand of theoperator is inserted through the yoke 15 for gripping the grip 16. Then,with the saddle 17 hearing against the back of the wrist or forearm ofthe user, the loaded rack 7 may be removed from the stationary rack 10and carried to the desired location, such as a delivery truck alsoequipped with a stationary rack, in an obvious manner. The slot 20 inthe clip 19, receiving the rod 8, positively prevents relative lateralmovement between the handle 13 and the rack 7. When delivering aplurality of the loaded hangers 12 to a customer said hangers may belifted simultaneously from the rod 8 through the medium of the handle21. When doing this the fingers of the deliveryman may be insertedthrough the lower ring or loop 22 through which the hanger hooks pass.This permits the unobstructed other or upper loop or ring 22 to bepresented to the customer. Thus, the operation may be completed withouteither party touching the hanger books. If desired, the handles 21 mayalso be utilized for grouping the loaded hangers and mounting same onthe rack 7.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6 of the drawing, there is shown a portableclothes rack 23 in the form of a wire garment hanger comprising agenerally rectangular frame 24 provided with a suspension hook 25. Theframe 24 includes a horizontal rod 26 for receiving thereon the loadedhangers 12 in the manner of the rod 8. The frame 24 further includes endportions 27 having fixed vertically thereon plates 28 which aresubstantially similar to the plates 11. The plates 28 are selectivelyengageable in the U-shaped member or clip 19 for mounting the handle 13on either end of the rack 23.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable clothes rack for mounting on a support and comprising ahorizontal rod for receiving thereon a pluarlity of loaded garmenthangers, a carrying handle .removably inserted in the clip fordetachably securing the handle on the rod.

2. A portable clothes rack for mounting on a support and comprising ahorizontal rod for receiving thereon a plurality ofloaded garmenthangers, a carrying handle for the rod, said handle including anangulated bar, a hand-grip on one end of the bar, an arm saddle on theother end of the bar, and a generally U-shaped clip on .an intermediateportion-of the bar, said rack further talrod for receiving thereon. aplurality of loaded garment hangers, vertical plates on the ends of saidrod, and

a carrying handle for the rod, said handle comprising a hand-grip, agenerally U-shaped clip on said hand-grip selectively receiving theplates and mounting the handle on either end of the rod, and an armbrace connected to the clip, said arm brace including a bar and anarmreceiving saddle on an end of said bar.

4. A clothes handling apparatus comprising a portable rack for mountingon a support and including a horizon tal 'rod for receiving thereon aplurality of loaded garment hangers, vertical plates on the ends of saidrod, and f a carrying handle for the rod, said handle comprising ahand-grip, a generally U-shaped clip on said hand-grip.

selectively receiving the plates and mounting the handle oneither end ofthe rod, and an arm brace connected to the clip, said arm braceincluding a bar and an arm receiving saddle on an end of said bar, saidclip having a slot in one end portion receiving the rod. l

5. A portable clothes rack comprising a wirefgarment hanger including agenerally' rectangular frame .for

mounting on a support, said frame including vvertical end portions and ahorizontal rod for receiving thereon a plurality of loaded garmenthangers, a carrying handle,

and means removably securing said handle on either of said end portionsof the frame, said carrying handle including a hand-grip and a.generally U-shaped clip mounted thereon, and vertical plates on saidendportions of the frame selectively and removably inserted in the clip,said handle further including an arm brace afiixed to the clipandcomprising a saddle for straddling an arm.

6. A portable clothes handling device comprising an 7 V 4elongatedhorizontal garment hanger receiving rod, a mounting memberrigid with one end of the rod, and a carrying handle, said handleincluding an elongated rigid bar, a hand-grip on one end of the bar, anarm saddle on the other end of the bar, and mounting means fixed ,to thebar at an intermediate point therealong, said mounting means releasablyengaging the mounting member for enabling a lifting of the rod throughthe handle.

7. A clothes rod carrying handle comprising a handgrip, an arcuate armsaddle located below the hand-grip in substantial vertical alignmenttherewith, abar rigidly interconnecting the hand-grip and arm saddle, anintermediate portion of said bar projecting forwardly of said hand-gripand arm saddle between said hand-grip and said arm saddle, and avertically extending clip fixed to the intermediate portion of the barand located forward of the hand-grip and arm saddle, said clipconsisting of two spaced parallel'vertical legs interconnected at theirlower ends.

8. The handle of claim 7 wherein one of said vertical legs includes acentrally locatedvertical slot extending downwardly from the upper endthereof.

9. A portable clothes handling device comprising an elongated horizontalgarment hanger receiving rod, mounting means rigid with one end of therod, and a carrying handle, said handle including an elongated rigidbar, an arm saddle on one end of said bar, a hand-grip on said bar ingeneral alignment with and spaced longitudinally from said arm saddle,and mounting member fixed to the bar and projecting therefrom, saidmounting member releasably engaging the mounting means for enabling alifting of the rod through the handle.

10. A portable clothes handling device comprising an elongatedhorizontal garment hanger receiving rod, an enlarged mounting memberrigid'with one end of the rod, and a carrying handle, said handleincluding an elongated rigid bar, an-arm conforming saddle on one end ofsaid bar, a hand-grip on said bar in general alignment with and spacedlongitudinally from said arm conforming saddle,;and mounting means fixedto the bar, said mounting means releasably engaging the mounting memberfor enabling a lifting of the rod through the handle.

I References Cited lin the file of this patent 7 UNIT ED; STAT ESPATENTS 398,902

I V Payne -QMar. 5, 1889 1,611,397 Wells 'Dec. 21, 1926 1,985,571Hetzel" Dec. 25, 1934 2,020,991 Brody ':Nov. 12,1935 2,549,712 SchwartzApr. 17, 1951 2,714,965 Fitzkee et a1. Aug. 9, 1955 2,728,503 KramerDec. 27, 1955 Tol'cher Nov. 20, 1956

1. A PORTABLE CLOTHES RACK FOR MOUNTING ON A SUPPORT AND COMPRISING AHORIZONTAL ROD FOR RECEIVING THEREON A PLURALITY OF LOADED GARMENTHANGERS, A CARRYING HANDLE FOR THE ROD, SAID HANDLE INCLUDING ANANGULATED BAR, A HAND-GRIP ON ONE END OF THE BAR, AN ARM SADDLE ON THEOTHER END OF THE BAR, AND A GENERALLY U-SHAPED CLIP ON AN INTERMEDIATEPORTION OF THE BAR, SAID RACK FURTHER COMPRISING A PLATE ON AT LEAST ONEEND PORTION OF THE ROD REMOVABLY INSERTED IN THE CLIP FOR DETACHABLYSECURING THE HANDLE ON THE ROD.